Live in: Jack lives in Encino; George, in Manhattan Beach.
Occupation: Jack, a former corporate attorney in private practice, is a member of the Global Executive Committee of Karl Storz Endoskope, an internationally renowned medical instrument and device firm. George, now retired, founded Transamerican Auto Parts, the nation's leading off-road automotive retail chain, which was sold to Bear Stearns Merchant Banking in 2006.
Joined the Foundation Family in: Opened a Donor Advised Fund, called the George I. Adler-Jack A. Frydrych Charitable Fund, in January 2006.
Personal information and community involvement: Born in Munich, Germany, Jack moved to Los Angeles in 1951. He and his wife, Susan, have two grown children and one grandchild. Jack chairs the World Jewish Communities Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, a subcommittee of the Israel and Overseas Committee. He was formerly a member of the Jewish Federation's Board of Directors and its Planning and Allocations Committee. In the Baltics, Jack and Susan fund aprogram entitled, "Judaism, Come Home," which provides a set of Judaica pieces (such as Seder plate, Kiddush cup, Menorah and Mezuzah) and education concerning their use to local families.
George was born in Brooklyn and moved to Los Angeles in 1945 at the age of four. He is single and has four grown children and three grandchildren.
Why we joined The Foundation: "We knew we wanted to fund overseas and local projects, and were thinking about establishing a private foundation. A good friend, who works for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, suggested a Donor Advised Fund at The Foundation. Now we are able to participate in the joy of funding without being concerned with administrative details."
The most meaningful thing about having a fund at The Foundation: "The Foundation makes it easy for us to work through the Jewish community to help underprivileged children in the Baltics, to support Israel and to fund local programs affiliated with the Los Angeles Jewish Federation. These local programs include Beit T'Shuvah, a residential and outpatient community for the treatment of addictions among Jews; and HaMercaz, a collaborative of seven social services agencies to serve Jewish special needs families, through which we funded a summer camp program."
Focus of our philanthropy: Funding overseas programs for children in need and renewing Jewish communities in areas impacted by the Nazis and by Communism. "Current focus is on the Baltic States-Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia-where our fund at The Foundation is helping to renovate the Jewish community center, to provide food, clothing and medical services to children in need, and to provide transportation for children to Jewish day care/kindergarten. We are also looking at projects in other countries. We want to assist with projects that become self-sustaining in two or three years," said Jack. Overseas funding is accomplished with the assistance of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation and the Joint Distribution Committee.
How we plan to instill philanthropic values in the next generation: "Our children are well aware of what we are doing as we discuss with them the projects we're considering, and we hope they will follow our example." Jack and Susan Frydrych have included charitable giving through The Foundation as part of their estate plan, with their children serving as donor-advisors.